Thurgood Marshall Middle School

Great teachers,excellent programs, principal a god sent,with strong principles and morals.My son is in honors, Made NJHP.Mentorship, drama, they pratically help me in raising him, thank god since I am a single parent.Never had a problem or concern, staff always there to talk to and return calls.
—Submitted by a parent

I give Thurgood Marshall 4 stars. This is my daughters first year there. I have read about many complaints. The only complaint I have is that alot of the programs planned gets changed around at the last minute. Otherwise, my daughter and nieces are doing excellent in their calsses. They are very active in the school and I have always been welcomed into the school. The principle and staff (especially Ms. Barnes) are great and the school is doing so much to encourage the students to do the right thing. This school takes the children to visit colleges so that they can see what they will have to look forward to in the future. Great school in my eyes.
—Submitted by a parent

Thurgood Marshall is a great school. As a parent, I am pleased that I can contact my child's teachers 24/7 by email and the teachers respond within moments. Homework, Grades, Attendance and more is all online. Not only are the teachers high-tech, there really do their jobs well. You would want your son or daughter to attend this school. If I had to rate it, I'd give them a 10+
—Submitted by a parent

I hada great year last year i loved the PTA (Candice Crandal) she always helped me when i needed it.Also i loved my teacher ms.Battle and ms.issac that wa the best 6th grade year i ever had.
—Submitted by a student

i think Thurgood Marshall Middle School is the best because we top all school!!! ROAR!!
—Submitted by a student

I'll miss all the wonderful things at TMMS and did I mention Mrs.Fossett is the best principal that i have incountered. I'm mad that the boundaries were changed. So I now have to goto Isaac ( i don't want to) . P.S Secratary of student Government 08-09sy
—Submitted by a student

Orginal comment posted in March of 2008. My hat goes off to Mrs. Fossett. In two years she and her staff have managed to turn this school completely around. Both me and my son enjoyed the time spent at Thurgood. I wouldn't hesitate to send my daughter. Parents...again I encourage you to be involved.
—Submitted by a parent

My son started this school this year. The principal is a marvelous individual and so far i have not had any problems. I believe that training starts in the home and if we as parents teach our kids some discipline and self control then when they are around their peers who are not behaving in a proper manner our kids will not start to adapt the mis-behavoir. Remember parents training starts at home and not in the schools. we have our kids before they start school. Become active in your childs academics, make sure you visit your childs classrooms. I am looking forward to my child having a very progressive academic year at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I had pretty much settled into the thought that PG County schools had nothing to offer my children until I met the Principal at Thurgood Marshall Middle. She is very inspiring and truly has the best interest of the children at heart. I Wish all school administrators could be more like her. I believe that because of the help of very good staff and the PTA my daughter will have a very good two years there. Keep up the good work!! 7th Grade parent:-)
—Submitted by a parent

The past has dictated that it is terrible and I will be sending a 7th grader there. This will be the first encounter with public schools I just hope I make it through the entire year. The teachers are so uneducated themselves, as their records indicate that they need to be sitting in someones' class themselves. It is a travesty to carry such a prominent name and produce inadequate public citizens. It should be illegal for this school to continue to operate in its present capacity. This public babysitting program needs to be scraped and built from the ground up and I will forward its progress to the proper authorities to see that any and all measures be undertaken to start this process.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with most of the parents this school is a mess. Last year was my childs first year there and she did not learn anything. Now I have to send my son there because of my address. The parents really need to stay involved with your kids. The kids are very disrespectful to the teachers and to each other. I can't speak of every teacher but most of them just come to get paid and not teach. They need to take better control of the school and start teaching our children. The school bus picking up and dropping off is terrible.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor quality of academic programs. When the principal was addressed with this concern, he brushed me off. The band program was abandoned by the principal when the band teacher was out long term. There is much to be desired at TMMS. I am looking at a private school for next year.
—Submitted by a parent

Low parental invovement. High teacher effort. Low principal leadership. Class sizes are to large. Not enough substitutes, so classes get split among other classes. Large discipline problem, inconsistant inforcement. I will NOT be sending my children back to TMMS next year.
—Submitted by Arnold Heft, a parent

This was my daughter's 1st year at TMMS and it will be her last. The principal does not seemed to feel the need to meet with parents. You do have some good teachers but not enough. Do not send your child to TMMS!
—Submitted by a parent

I've read all of the comments made about TMMS and I agree with most. I must say the entire staff is wonderful and because of their hard work I feed them quarterly. Teachers need a pat on the back too. As for the disrespectful children, I feel because of CPA discipline is out the window. The parent involvement truely is disgusting, we need to support our teachers who teach our children, because the children are our future.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunatley, we are not having good beginning yr at Thurgood Marshall. As a parent, I dont feel like some teachers are working with parents to there best. I also know that beginning middle school is totally different from elementary. Overall, I the school a rating of a D. My son will NOT be attending this school next year. It seems that teachers have no controll over some children, causing others not to gain the eduacation needed. I really think the school could use more assistance.
—Submitted by a parent

I would like to commend the hard working staff at Thurgood Marshall Middle School. The Principal Mr. Adams is committed to the job. The teachers are dear and top notch. This school is on the rebound to the top. It has made great strides in reading and math. The new test scores should be put up as proof.
—Submitted by a parent

Based on recent statistics and from first hand knowledge, Thurgood is a pretty decent school that strives on a daily basis to meet the academic and social challenges encountered by the PG school system. What saddens me is the lack of support by TMMS parents. As an active parent I've seen on too many occasions that parents are quick to complain but never want to be a part of the solution. Of the approximate 800 students, only 10 parents are seen on a regular basis, five of which are PTA members, approximately 25 parents attend PTA monthly meetings. TMMS has a very strong, active PTA. Their meetings provide a great opportunity to be a part of the team and learn what's going on at TMMS and in the community. The TMMS students need more parental support and less negative, unsubstantiated energy, as they strive for academic excellence and positive community involvement.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is definitely on the road to success! The school experienced a downward shift; however, Principal Adams, his staff, and the PTA have done an excellent job of turning things around. The school's 2005 MSA scores are up and the school met its requirements for AYP. Just like any other school, TMMS has its pool of phenomenal teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty. TMMS also has its pool of mediocre teachers who do just enough to get by and a pool of teachers who have retired on the job and don't exert much effort. The PTA was revitalized during the 2003-2004 school year and continues to make great strides. The PTA offers excellent information on parenting and school activities via its monthly newsletter and provides informative monthly meetings. However, parents do not take full advantage of the wealth of information that the PTA offers.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. The principal is working hard with the teachers to ensure better test scores, has added a tutoring session after school, has added three extra curricular activites after school, has added National Junior Honor Society, the list goes on. I have had only good thing to say about the school. What a turn around from years past. Thanks teachers, administrators, staff, security, and the principal. JOB WELL DONE!
—Submitted by a parent